Maradona provides thriller in VIP box after health scare

SAINT PETERSBURG: Diego Maradona (pic) roared and gesticulated through every anguished second of Argentina’s rollercoaster World Cup victory over Nigeria before triggering alarm with a health scare after the final whistle.

Lionel Messi may have dominated the on-field action in Saint Petersburg, but from his VIP box in the stands Maradona reigned supreme as the undisputed centre of attention on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old football legend started the evening dancing playfully with a female Nigeria fan, saluting and waving to well-wishers applauding him in the moments before kick-off.

Throughout Argentina’s nerveshredding 2-1 victory, which secured the South American giants’ passage into the last 16, the host broadcaster television feed regularly cut to images of Maradona as the tension mounted.

When Messi gave Argentina the lead early in the first half, Maradona screamed his delight, crossing his hands across his chest and gazing to the heavens.

The 1986 World Cup winner looked increasingly frazzled as the game wore on, at one stage slumped forward in his seat just before half-time.

After Nigeria made it 1-1 from the penalty spot after the break – a scoreline that would have sent Argentina crashing out of the tournament – Maradona grew increasingly distraught.

By the 80th minute he sat with his hands covering his face, unable to watch as the seconds ticked towards a footballing calamity for Argentina.

Yet when Marcos Rojo swept in a sumptuous volley with four minutes remaining, Maradona exploded with emotion, shouting an obscene insult before raising the middle finger of each hand in the direction of the pitch.

But the jubilation turned to alarm soon after the final whistle when a video emerged on social media of Maradona walking with difficulty and being guided into the dining room of the VIP section by two friends. Other photographs showed two uniformed paramedics attending to him, with one appearing to take his pulse.

Argentina media reported that Maradona had suffered a spike in his blood pressure. Argentinian newspaper

Ole later reported that Maradona was able to walk and had gone to his hotel.

But Maradona later said he is “fine” after being treated by a doctor.

Alongside a post on Instagram showing a picture of himself with medical staff, Maradona said: “I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not, neither was I interned.”

He said his neck “hurt a lot” during halftime of the game and that he was “checked by a doctor” who recommended Maradona leave the stadium.

“But I wanted to stay because we were risking it all,” Maradona said. “How could I leave?”